Synthesis and photoluminescence study of hyperbranched poly(arylene ether ketone) nanocomposites containing cadmium sulfide nanoparticles

In the present research, it reported the synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched poly(arylene ether ketone) (HPAEK)‐cadmium sulfide nanocomposites prepared using carboxylic‐functionalized HPAEK (ACA‐HPAEK) as the ligand in N,N‐dimethylformamide solution from Cd(Ac)₂ and thiourea. The optical characterization of the CdS/ACA‐HPAEK nanocomposites had been carried out by UV‐vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy while the morphological properties had been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The results of PL measurement showed that the nanocomposite exhibited distinct luminescence properties. Furthermore, the thermal properties had been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The analyses had shown that CdS quantum dots with diameter about 4 nm could be synthesized by such route and the nanocomposites exhibited not only good light emission in the UV range but also excellent heat resistance. In general, a new CdS/ACA‐HPAEK nanohybrid was synthesized without ligand exchange, and had good optical properties and excellent heat resistance. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E508–E514, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers